Party in the Park aims to get community spirit going

Jon Smurthwaite and Derek Walker-Hawley, who will be taking part in the Three Peak Challenge in aid of cancer charity Orchid

Share

A community fun day will take place in May to bring people together and raise money for a male cancer charity.

Party in the Park takes place at Easthampstead Park Conference Centre and is open to families across the town to help raise funds for the charity Orchid.

Organiser Diane Goodchild explained: “We were going to do just a fete and then we decided it is Bank Holiday Monday and people might be hard up for things to do so let’s give them an afternoon out.

“I remember back years and years ago as I have lived in Bracknell most of my life, we used to have a fair in Bracknell town centre every Bank Holiday Monday.”

She added: “Party in the Park is about getting a bit of community spirit in Bracknell again.

“It’s about people spending time with their kids and not having to spend lots of money, and what money they do spend will go to a good cause.”

The community event features a fun fair, bouncy castle, pony rides, petting zoo, art and craft activities for children and bands.

Diane, from Warfield, said: “We have the launch of a Bruno Mars tribute act and we are hoping to get Edgbarrow Swing Band to come along and play.”

Diane’s brother-in-law Derek Walker-Hawley, from Easthampstead, and his colleague Jon Smurthwaite of Harmans Water, will be attempting the Three Peaks Challenge on Father’s Day to raise money for the charity.

Diane said: “As the boys are taking on the challenge they wanted to do it for a male charity.

“Orchid is a very small charity from what I am now discovering.

“Breast cancer has its Race For Life, which is well known, but this one is for the boys and we are finding we are getting a lot of support as it is a different charity.”

Orchid was set up by a testicular cancer patient in 1996 and focuses on male-specific cancers – prostate, penile and testicular.

Diane added: “The boys are trying to raise as much as much as they can, but would like to raise £1,000 each.”

Party in the Park takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 7, from midday to around 10.30pm.